By Kristen Watson

When October comes around, for most it means the arrival of fall and Halloween with Christmas on its heels. But for two University of North Texas students, October holds a more significant meaning.

October is National Disability Awareness Month, a time when schools, organizations and ordinary people take the time to educate others and themselves about different disabilities. According to a 2012 U.S. Census Bureau report, nearly 1 in 5 people in the United States live with a disability.  

Devin Axtman is a 23-year-old rehabilitation counseling graduate student who works at UNT’s Office of Disability Accommodation.

Armed with humor, Axtman spends his days counseling UNT students with disabilities, helping them to improve their college experience.

He also happens to have cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder that has caused him to become a wheelchair-user.

Axtman looks at Disability Awareness Month as a time when he can help spread knowledge about not only his disability but also the effect it has on the human experience.

“I like to look at it [Disability Awareness Month] as an opportunity to shatter some of the myths and stereotypes about disabilities,” Axtman said. “I think a lot of times people think that people with disabilities can’t be successful, and I think it’s a good opportunity to kind of dispel that a little bit.”

Having cerebral palsy has given Axtman a different view on life and wants others to know is there are many stereotypes to be broken.

Axtman recounted a story where someone praised him for being a good person just because he was using his wheelchair on campus. They went as far to say that if they were him, they don’t think they would have gotten their education.

“It didn’t offend me,” Axtman said. “I just laugh stuff off, but if you think about what [she] just said, [she] basically said, ‘Yeah. You’re kind of messed up. Congrats on living your life.’ I joke about it, but I have a friend who has cerebral palsy too, and someone once said to her, ‘Oh you’d be really pretty without those crutches.’ You know, and that sucks.”

In lieu of Disability Awareness Month, Axtman shared his best advice for people who are unsure of how to treat someone with a disability.

“I guess just the first thing is to relax,” Axtman said. “And if you have questions, just ask them. I think that’s the biggest thing…Get to know me first and then talk to me about my disability.”

Janelle Van Benthem is a 20-year-old social work junior who works as a host at LSA Burger. She is also involved in an all-girls organization called North Texas Sweethearts that organizes spirit, social and service events for its members.

She also happens to have achromotpisia, an eye condition that has left her legally blind.

Van Benthem said Disability Awareness Month doesn’t affect her much personally, but she is glad there is a time where people become more aware that not everyone can function the same.

Even though Van Benthem is legally blind, she is not fully blind. When she was in eighth grade, she got her first pair of contacts that allowed her to feel more confident. Like Axtman, Van Benthem too has had her fair share of ignorant comments.

“This has happened more than once,” Van Benthem said. “People, who can even be people close to me, will say something as simple as, ‘oh she’s blind,’ or call me blind in a way. It really hurts my feelings and can offend me because I’m not blind.”

Van Benthem said she is comfortable with people asking her about her disability. In fact, she prefers it.

“Personally, I think the best way to approach it is instead of staring at them and treating them different, just ask them about their disability,” Van Benthem said. “I would much rather have someone ask me instead of just watching me and judging me. It makes me feel more comfortable and it will make them feel more comfortable.”

Lauren Tracy, a political science senior, lives a life that is also touched by a disability. Her aunt has a form of Alzheimer’s disease that stops the transfer of signals between her eyes and brain, essentially leaving her blind.

“Just ask them,” Tracy said. “I think every person has their own relationship with their disability. Have a conversation with them. Their honesty may surprise you.”

After spending much time with her aunt, Tracy wants people to understand that everyone has problems and issues to deal with in life, and for these people, it just happens to be their disability.

“I think it’s offensive to assume that people with a disability should be pitied,” Tracy said. “Many people with disabilities don’t want your pity. Rather, they just want equal footing to navigate in this world like those without a disability are able to do.”

For more information on UNT’s activities for Disability Awareness Month, visit: http://calendar.unt.edu/disability-awareness-month-events-october.